Talking device



Dec. 28,1937. H. J. WHELAN ET AL 2,103,739

TALKING DEVICE Filed Nov. 4, 1932 HONdiQJ/VHQ N LOU/J Z CZ ARK.

Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES TALKING DEVICE Howard J. Whelan,Baltimore, and Louis '1. Clark, Ellicott City, Md.

Application November 4, 1932, Serial No. 641,294

1 Claim.

. This invention refers to talking and musical instruments, and moreparticularly to a device for intoning special wording in a continuousman v ner, and operated as a hand instrument and gen- 5 eral portablepurposes.

It has among its objects to provide a device of this class that may beadapted for special purposes, and particularly to accentuate certainexpressions that will influence the bearer.

Another object is to have the device adaptable for using severaldifierent expressions, which can be adjusted at will to be used.

A further object is to have the device 'self containable and utilize newarrangements for developing using expressions, or tones or whatever maybe brought into play.

Many other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fullyset forth.

While many devices have been developed and used for recording andrepeating sounds and words, such devices are in general cumbersome andundesirable for portable handling. This device is simple inconstruction, and light in weight, and combines in a few parts, all thatis necessary for bringing about the sounds and expressionspredetermined. It does not use removable records and the distinctivemechanism that is required in a graphophone. It is preferably operatedby hand, and performs a special function such as repeating a slogan,advertising a subject, expressing a pleasantry, and otherwise fillingsome particular purpose which meets a special situation, and which it isdesired to emphasize in the mind of the bearer.

In the drawing, which illustrates by way of example an embodiment ofthis invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a voice box embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the recorder and speaker used inthis embodiment.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout thedrawing.

In the construction, I represents a box, which is preferably round andcylindrical, that has an opening 2, in which a special speaker cone 4,is

located and faces outwardly in the box as indicated. The speaker cone ismade of a prepared paper metal or silk or suitable material that givesit a desirable stiffness and makes it a suitable diaphragm. It hasaspindle 5 attached at its apex and secured thereto with a suitableconical nut 6. The spindle is provided with a needle I that is adaptedto engage on the recoding wheel I on its edge 9 which is provided withsound marks I. This wheel has a hub H and is mounted on a shaft l2,which is suitably mounted in the box. A slight sidewise movement ispermitted with the shaft in the box, in order to permit more than oneslogan to be provided on the recoding wheel. In order to provide arecoding wheel that will not require the usual type of removable recordsused on talking machines, this device is provided with special featuresof recoding, that have been developed in bringing out this invention.The manner of making this recoding wheel, as it is called, is in onecase to make it of aluminum, and produce the codes thereon. It is alsofound feasible to make the wheel of rubber with its edges soft whenrecoding and then hardened with a cooling process; also to use plasterof Paris with a coating of copper or copper plated to provide a morepermanent using; and also to use a lead wheel with a coating of copperor harder metal for wearing provision.

The shaft is provided with a handle l3 for manual operation, which forlightness and general use is preferred to providing a motor of any kind,although same might be used and the handle provided for winding same up.

In its operation the device, is operated by turning the handle, and theedge of the wheel with its code marks engage with the needle, and theneedle transmits the vibrations directly to the cone speaker and givesout the tones provided on the wheel edge. This is repeated, as manytimes as the wheel is rotated. The cone by reason of its constructionreadily transmits the sounds in a clear and distinct manner.

If more than one slogan is required. the extra expression is provided onthe wheel edge by the side of the other, and the shaft is moved to bringit into registry when about to be used.

While but one form of construction is shown in the drawing, it is notdesired to limit this application for patent to this particular, or inany other way, otherwise than limited by the prior art, as it isappreciated that other constructions could be made that would use thesame principles and come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a manually operated phonograph, the combination of a box of hollowcylindrical form having an opening in one end thereof, a diaphragmdisposed in the said opening, a stylus attached to said diaphragm, ashaft extending diametrically through said cylindrical box, a handle forturning said shaft, a record mounted on the shaft within the box, saidrecord being engaged by said stylus to reproduce sound.

HOWARD J. WHELAN. LOUIS T. CLARK.

